What Does A Link Mean
Finally, finding a link does not necessarily mean that it is dairy consumption which causes or leads to prostate cancer. There may be other important factors at play which we dont know about and the link to dairy consumption may just be a coincidence. For example, it may be that individuals with high dairy intake are more likely to smoke or less likely to exercise. On the other hand, individuals who follow a plant-based or vegan diet for health reasons may be more health-conscious in general, leading to the lower risk.
Foods Linked To Prostate Cancer
American men get prostate cancer more often now than they did in the past. Why?
To see if diet plays a role, Jan L. Colli, MD, and colleagues at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, compared changes in the American diet with changes in prostate cancer over the 71 years between 1930 and 2000.
Overall, the foods linked to prostate cancer were red meat, added fats and oils, ice cream, margarine, salad/cooking oil, and vegetable shortening.
“This country shifted from animal fats and went to vegetable fats because we thought this would be better for the heart,” Colli said, at a news conference. “That never panned out. And now it seems it might be worse for prostate cancer.”
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Alcohol During Cancer Surgery
When it comes to prostate cancer surgery, guidelines tend to get strict again. Itâs key to be honest about your drinking habits with your doctor. Theyâll guide you on how much, if any, is safe, and if itâs safe to stop drinking alcohol immediately.
Quitting drinking too suddenly can be dangerous for some people. It can trigger side effects like delirium and seizures and can even be fatal. If needed, your doctor can prescribe meds to keep this from happening.
Even modest drinkers are at risk for complications during and after surgery. These could include heart problems, bleeding, infections, and having to stay in the hospital for longer.
When you attempt to quit, tell your doctor right away if:
- You have a headache or feel like youâre going to throw up.
- Your anxiety amps up.
- You canât sleep without drinking.
- You canât stop drinking.
These are some of the first signs of alcohol withdrawal and can be treated.
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Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria
The criteria for inclusion were: casecontrol and cohort studies evaluating the relationship between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer original articles published in English up till December 2014 articles that reported findings in odds ratio, hazard ratio, incidence ratio or standardized mortality ratio and articles reporting at least three levels of alcohol consumption with drinking amounts, including the reference level. Articles with no abstainer group or a lowest drinking level greater than 0.33g/d were excluded. Additionally, studies reporting total alcohol consumption were included while studies based on consumption of specific beverages only such as wine, whiskey, vodka, sake or hard liquors were excluded. When the results of the study were published more than once or if the same dataset was used multiple times, only the most recent or more complete data were included in analyses. The primary outcomes of interest were mortality and/or morbidity from prostate cancer .
While published and peer reviewed cohort or casecontrol studies were included in the review, all other article types including narrative reviews, letters, editorials, commentaries, unpublished manuscripts, dissertations, government reports, books and book chapters, conference proceedings, meeting abstracts, lectures and address, and consensus development statement including guideline statements, were excluded.
Ascertainment Of Prostate Cancer Occurrence
We ascertained cases of prostate cancer through self-reports on the follow-up questionnaire sent in 1993. The date of diagnosis was taken as the reported year of diagnosis. The accuracy of self-reported, physician-diagnosed prostate cancer in Harvard alumni was confirmed 91% of the time. In addition, deaths were compiled continuously by the Harvard Alumni Office, which maintains a listing of deceased alumni. We traced deaths through the end of 1993. For each death reported by the alumni office, we requested and obtained death certificates from the appropriate state. We included as prostate cancer endpoints deaths with prostate cancer listed as either the underlying or a contributing cause of death. Mortality follow-up in this cohort is over 99% complete.
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Is It Harmful To Drink Alcohol If You Have Prostate Cancer
Drinking alcohol while undergoing cancer treatment can be risky and may cause greater discomfort throughout the treatment process.
The most concerning risks of drinking while undergoing treatment can include:
- worsened side effects of radiation therapy
- masking symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer
- increasing other health risks
- greater risk for prostate cancer-related death
These risks can be even greater for people who are drinking heavy amounts of alcohol or are addicted to alcohol. Alcohol use and addiction can wreak havoc throughout the body, and lead to other struggles commonly experienced by people with cancer such as depression and anxiety.
Heavy drinking is a serious concern that can pose severe dangers for people with or without prostate cancer. If you are struggling with alcohol use or addiction, the best way to prevent or treat serious health concerns is to seek professional treatment.
Can Any Foods Help With My Prostate Cancer
You may have heard that certain foods might help slow down the growth of prostate cancer or lower the chance of it coming back after treatment, including:
- soya beans and other pulses
- green tea
- tomatoes and lycopene
- cruciferous vegetables
- pomegranate.
With all of these foods, there is some evidence to suggest they might be helpful for men with prostate cancer, but other studies havent shown any effect. This means we cant say for sure whether any of these foods can help. Until theres more evidence that any individual food has an effect on prostate cancer, its best to have a balanced diet that contains all of the food groups.
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Staging And Survival Rates
If doctors can catch prostate cancer early, it usually responds well to treatment.
Staging is a system that helps doctors determine how far cancer has spread in the body. There are three tiers of staging for prostate cancer:
- local, when cancer cells are only present in the prostate
- regional, meaning that cancer cells have spread to nearby areas of the body
- distant, in cases where cancer cells have spread throughout the body
Survival rates are an approximate measure that can give a person some information about how likely their treatment is to be successful.
A 5-year relative survival rate denotes the percentage of people who live for at least 5 years after diagnosis compared with people who do not have this condition. Although information collection on survival rates takes place at the 5-year mark, it is possible that many people will live for much longer than this.
Tips For Cutting Back On Caffeine
Kicking caffeine to the curb may help your BPH symptoms, but doing so can be challenging. Caffeine is a stimulant, and its often addictive. Learn more about the effects of caffeine on the body.
- difficulty concentrating
- flu-like symptoms
Here are some tips to help lessen your caffeine intake and reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms:
- Keep a journal. Knowing how much caffeine you have each day, including caffeine in coffee, tea, chocolate, medications, and foods, can help you cut back. You may be having more than you realize.
- Dont quit cold turkey. This may cause withdrawal symptoms to be more severe. Instead, gradually reduce your caffeine intake. For example, if you have two cups of coffee each morning, have one instead or make yourself a cup that is half decaf and half regular coffee.
- Brew for less. You can easily reduce the amount of caffeine in your morning cup of coffee by simply brewing it for less time.
- Cut the caffeine. Try herbal or decaf teas instead of regular tea.
- Get enough rest. If youre overly tired, you may be more tempted to turn to caffeine for a quick pick-me-up.
- Take a walk. If you feel tired during the day, try walking for 5 to 10 minutes. This may give you a boost of energy and help you avoid that extra cup of coffee.
Treatment for BPH varies. You may not need treatment, or you may need medication or surgery. In addition to limiting caffeine, you may benefit from these lifestyle habits:
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This Study Got Closer To Showing Calcium To Cause Risk But It Also Fell Short
Careful analysis of the data found that VERY HIGH levels of calcium MIGHT have a modest effect on prostate cancer risk.
Might have a MODEST effect.
But normal to moderate levels of dietary calcium did NOT have an effect on the development of prostate cancer.
Now, very high levels of calcium might have a very small effect on the development of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Risk Factors
Some factors which may increase your risk for prostate cancer include:
- A raised risk after the age of 50
- A family history of prostate cancer
- Obesity
- Race particularly as studies have shown that men of African ancestry are most at risk
Contrary to an idea that some folks have, frequent sex does not pose any risks that can cause prostate cancer.
We can read the following in the webpage of the National Cancer Institute: Numerous studies have examined whether there is an association between alcohol consumption and the risk of other cancers.
Evidence is accumulating that alcohol is associated with increased risks of melanoma and of prostate and pancreatic cancers.
Medical authorities have countered opinions about the scientific data published so far. There is evidence that alcohol can increase the risk of prostate cancer, but it is sometimes inconsistent.
Men who are heavy drinkers and have a prostate cancer diagnosis may experience aggravated symptoms caused by alcohol intake.
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Can Heavy Drinking Increase The Risk Of Aggressive Prostate Cancer Later In Life
Do you need more help?
Alcohol is a known carcinogen and heavy consumption is linked to a range of cancers, including breast, throat and mouth, and liver cancers. To date the jury has been out on whether heavy drinking increases the risk of prostate cancer with mixed evidence across different studies.
A study published recently in Cancer Prevention Research aimed to assess the impact of alcohol intake across the life stages and see if it is linked to a prostate cancer diagnosis. The US-based study surveyed 650 men undergoing a prostate biopsy for their alcohol intake over each decade of life.
The study found that heavy drinking itself did not increase the odds of a prostate cancer diagnosis. However, when a prostate cancer diagnosis was received, the grade or aggressiveness of the cancer was significantly higher compared with men that drank moderately or lightly during their lifetime. These findings indicate that the prostate may be susceptible to carcinogenic exposures, such as alcohol, quite early in life.
What Drinks To Avoid For Your Prostate Problems
You should avoid drinks that increase your urination. These can dehydrate you. These include caffeine-containing drinks such as coffee, green tea, black tea and soft drinks or sodas. Alcohol can also dehydrate you. Hence, limit its intake or consider avoiding it completely. People who avoid alcohol have seen improvements in their prostate problems.
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How Can Coffee Affect An Enlarged Prostate
The stimulant caffeine in coffee affects an enlarged prostate by increasing the rate of urination, causing the person to pee more than usual. It may also have an impact on the bladder sensation and contraction.
Stimulants are responsible for triggering certain changes in the regular functioning of the body system. Large doses of caffeine, for this reason, may result in affecting the muscles in the neck of the bladder. This will make a person urinate more.
Moreover, caffeine is a natural diuretic. This is why you get the sensation to pee more after having coffee. Even if the caffeine content doesnt affect the prostate directly, if a person is already having issues with an enlarged prostate, the stimulant may irritate the organ.
The diuretic effect of the caffeine will also produce the rate of urination and youll get frequent urgency to urinate if you have BPH.
This study on the Effect of caffeine on bladder function in patients with overactive bladder symptoms showed that caffeine can promote early urgency to urinate and the symptoms are more prevalent in the case of individuals with overactive bladder.
Its better to limit the consumption of caffeinated beverages to avoid any of these unwanted feelings if youre having an enlarged prostate.
Is It Worse If I Drink And Smoke
Drinking alcohol is worse for you if you smoke. This is because tobacco and alcohol work together to cause much more damage to cells. This increases the risk of cancer.
For example, people who both smoke and drink alcohol are at a higher risk of mouth and upper throat cancer. This can happen because:
- Alcohol may make it easier for harmful chemicals from tobacco smoke to pass through the mouth and throat into the bloodstream.
- Alcohol may change how the toxic chemicals from tobacco smoke are broken down in the body, making them even more harmful.
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There Are Many New Containers That You Might Think Are Safe
Plastic alternatives for food storage such as glass or aluminum come to mind.
And some of these have an aluminum body, so you think theyre not plastic.
But they have a coating on the inside that coating often consists of some type of plastic.
This is not safe either.
BPA migration from aluminum bottles lined with epoxy-based resins was variable depending on manufacturer ranging from 0.08 to 1.9 mg L1.
Once again, you get many times more BPA than the mice consumed in the experiment showing prostate damage.
Is It Safe For Someone To Drink Alcohol While Undergoing Cancer Chemotherapy
As with most questions related to a specific individuals cancer treatment, it is best for patients to check with their health care team about whether it is safe to drink alcohol during or immediately following chemotherapy treatment. The doctors and nurses administering the treatment will be able to give specific advice about whether it is safe to consume alcohol while undergoing specific cancer treatments.
Selected References
IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Alcohol consumption and ethyl carbamate. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks in Humans 2010 96:31383.
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What Can I Drink For An Enlarged Prostate
There are a number of drinks that are beneficial for the prostate gland when it is enlarged. Green tea can be helpful as it may reduce inflammation, plus it has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties to keep infections at bay. These are more common amongst men who cannot empty their bladder properly because of an enlarged prostate.
Although green tea does contain caffeine, which is known to be problematic for sufferers of an enlarged prostate, the quantities are very small. Also, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature of green tea outweigh any negatives.
Drinking plenty of water is also super important as it reduces the concentration of urine in the bladder thus easing irritation in the area. Id recommend increasing your intake gradually though, to avoid any adverse effects like more frequent urination.
So, what are the key points you should take away from this?
- Alcohol can worsen enlarged prostate symptoms in a number of ways and for a number of different reasons too
- Age, hormones, activity levels and smoking are more likely influence the development of an enlarged prostate than alcohol is
- Stick to the guidelines regarding alcohol consumption that 16 units a week
- If you need help reducing your alcohol intake then visit your GP or take a look a look at online resources provided by the NHS and Drink Aware
- Plain, still water and green tea can be beneficial for an enlarged prostate.
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What Are The Best Drinks For Prostate Health
As men age, theyre at risk of developing prostate-related problems. When men grow older, the size of the prostate increases. This growth can squeeze their urethra, causing problems in the process. One of the most effective ways for preventative health care is through dietary choices. Drinking liquids rich in vitamins and minerals can promote a healthy prostate as you age. Here are some of the best drinks for prostate health.
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Does Drinking Milk Really Increase Your Risk For Prostate Cancer
From the milk cartons in school cafeterias to the milk in our cereal bowls, this beverage plays a key role in our diets. However, a new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has linked milk with an increased risk of prostate cancer . The study looked at men who drank approximately 1.75 cups of milk per day on a regular basis, compared to men who had only one or two teaspoons of milk per day. The men who drank more milk daily had a 27% increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The men who drank more than a cup of milk per day were also compared to a group of men who didn’t consume any milk or milk-based products at all they had a 60% increased risk of prostate cancer, compared to non-dairy consumers.
Study author Dr. Gary Fraser, a professor of preventive medicine at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and School of Public Health, has previously conducted similar research. He found a link between the consumption of milk and an increased risk of developing breast cancer . While he asserts that more research needs to be done to determine the risks of drinking milk, his advice to men with family histories of prostate cancer is to consider switching to a plant-based diet. Even decreasing the amount of regularly consumed milk may lower the risk of prostate cancer.